2016 Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape Porte du Ciel

Bottled just a month before my visit, the 2016 La Clape la Porte du Ciel looks even more impressive than it did from barrel. The warmth I noted last year has seemingly been absorbed into this huge, inky-purple wine. Pencil shavings accent classic Syrah notes of licorice, blackberries and grilled meat on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple and velvety, and blueberries and plums emerge on the long finish. Give it a couple of years if you have patience, and drink it over the next 15+ years.